Changing identities
After I was released from prison in 1986, I would be introduced in conferences with a triple XXX: ex-prisoner, ex-priest, ex-rebel.
I must explain that I was ordained a Catholic priest in 1968. After a short stint of teaching in the seminary, I got deeply involved in the struggle of farmers for land reform, and linked up with students who were getting radicalized. When martial law was imposed in the Philippines in 1972, many of us joined the illegalized left-led resistance. I was arrested and imprisoned twice. Wasn’t very good at fighting in the underground. Didn’t learn about that in the seminary!
Anyway, when traveling to some conferences in Europe, I needed to fill up immigration forms at national borders. What to write under “Occupation” that would stand scrutiny? I eventually settled on “Theologian.” After all, a theologian need not show proof of income, only proof of training. And has license to comment on any topic.
Later, thinking of crossing borders into the next life, I decided to call myself an “Educator.” I think I can live with that on my tombstone.
